Manukau Sports Clubs Capitalise on Club Smart program

More than 50 sports clubs in Manukau now benefit from the Club Smart programme that helps them manage various issues including volunteer and member recruitment and retention, funding, facilities and legal responsibilities.

Club Smart is a partnership between the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation and Counties Manukau Sport. The programmeâs club development officers create tailored plans for each club, working with them for 12 to 18 months to help them increase their capabilities and capacity.

One of the first clubs to sign up was Manukau Rugby League. As League Secretary Shirley Waipouri, explains "we joined Club Smart to help us plan for the future and to look at our governance.

"The Action Plan created by Victor Heke from Counties Manukau Sport has made us think about our roles within the club and also to think about what path we really need to be on.

"Our main focus has been on operations and to keep our clubs afloat from year to year; there was no time to look at the bigger picture as there were only a few people that volunteered to manage the club. Joining Club Smart would be a wise thing for clubs in that it would pin point what issues need to be addressed in order for a club to progress."

Peter Judd, Secretary of Onehunga Mangere United AFC agrees, stating "we have been able to clarify our thinking and goals and to clearly set out what was probably a bit fuzzy.

"We have also established a regular Strategic Planning Review slot in our meetings. We now have a point of focus to regularly keep us on track."

Judd highly recommends other clubs to join, adding "if a company were to hire consultants to do this sort of work in a business setting, it would cost them thousands of dollars. Also, for volunteer-based organisations which most if not all of us are, the more of a simple system that can be implemented, the better."

Pennie Ball, Sport Development Advisor for Counties Manukau Sport, is eager to see more sports clubs take advantage of the Club Smart programme. Currently, only a quarter of the sports clubs in Manukau have registered for the programme.

Bell explains "through Club Smart, volunteers can put much more effort into what theyâre really interested in, which is the growth of their sports, because they build their skills and refine their systems and processes so their clubs have much greater efficiency.

"Too often, clubs have too few volunteers doing too much. Club Smart helps them build capacity and develop. Often it's through small things, like job descriptions for volunteers and action plans, through to understanding of legal responsibilities like OSH regulations.

"Club Smart's programme can only strengthen Manukau sports as a whole."

Foundation chair and councillor, Sir John Walker, is extremely proud of the success of the Club Smart programme, advising "this programme has given many clubs the opportunity for growth that they may not otherwise have had. The importance of growing sports clubs is vital as these clubs are the heart of community sport.

"We want to encourage more youth to join sport clubs."

The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation aims to provide every young person in Manukau the opportunity to participate in an active, healthy lifestyle through sport and recreation, and ensure financial hardship is not a barrier. The Club Smart programme has been fully funded by The Lion Foundation since 2008. 

3rd May 2010 - MANUKAU SWIM INITIATIVE EARNS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

4th November 2009 - SCHOOL SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES RISING 

11th June 2009 - JOHN WALKER KNIGHTED

3rd April 2009 - FREE SPORT AND RECREATION FOR MANUKAU YOUTH

24th October 2008 - MANUKAU LEISURE PERFORMS AHEAD OF BUDGET

21st August 2008 - JUDE HEADS MANUKAU LEISURE SERVICES 

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